Washington – Today the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, released a video ad featuring U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore of Wisconsin for its Americans for Marriage Equality campaign. In the video, Congresswoman Moore states, “I’ve always fought for equality and justice in America, which is why I think it’s wrong to tell two people in love they can’t get married, just because they’re gay or lesbian.” The video can be viewed online at www.hrc.org/marriageequality.

“Rep. Moore is a great ally, and an incredible voice for LGBT equality in Congress,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “We are proud to count her as a friend and advocate in our fight for marriage equality nationwide, and we’re grateful for her steadfast support for our community in the House of Representatives.”

Congresswoman Gwen Moore represents Wisconsin’s 4th District in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving since 2005, and is the first African-American to represent the state in Congress. Rep. Moore scored a 100 percent on HRC’s Congressional Scorecard for the 112th Congress and is a co-sponsor of a number of pro-LGBT equality bills, including the Respect for Marriage Act (RMA) and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). She has also been a vocal supporter of including LGBT-specific provisions in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

About 53 percent of the American public supports marriage for same-sex couples, according to a number of nonpartisan polls, including Gallup, CNN, and Washington Post/ABC News.

Americans for Marriage Equality is a public engagement campaign featuring prominent Americans who support committed gay and lesbian couples getting married. The campaign draws from a cadre of supportive professional athletes, film and music celebrities, and political and civic leaders.

For more information on the campaign or to see the videos, visit www.hrc.org/marriageequality.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

As a principle of your organization, you clearly understand the importance of sales in the organization. You are wearing too many hats to play sales manager as well but do you really know how they are doing? If they aren’t hitting their revenue goals do you know why? Is it a viable reason? Do they have a battle plan to change that?

You have two challenges when your sales force prepares for battle:

Challenge 1: Like any kind of warfare, you have a distinct advantage when you can tap good and reliable intelligence. Here’s the problem: Your salespeople don’t get enough accurate intelligence about their prospects. As a result, their pipelines are filled with flaky opportunities. And your sales managers don’t have enough guts to call them on it.

Here’s the litmus test. When your sales people submit their forecasts, do you or your managers “adjust” them down for realism? It’s typically easier for salespeople and their managers to discuss why they didn’t win business, instead of asking themselves the right questions before going to battle.

Here are some of the right questions:

“Can we win and should we pursue this opportunity?”

If yes, how do you know? What is the reasoning? A guess? A hunch?

“Which strategy should we adopt to ensure that we win and why?

To begin, ask your salespeople: “How much does it cost to win a new account?” Calculate the actual costs associated with generating a lead, a contact, an appointment, a proposal and a sale. Now add in the opportunity cost of missed business they could have won if they weren’t wasting time on business that won’t close quickly.

If you’re like most selling organizations, the cost per pursuit is several hundred or even thousands of dollars. Multiply that by the number of opportunities you chased and didn’t close in the last 12 months. Staggering isn’t it?

Before your sales people charge off to fight the next battle, ask them, “If this was your money, would you spend it?”

Challenge 2: Your sales people don’t do enough planning work before going to battle.

Before going into battle again, make sure your salespeople can answer these questions (honestly):

What are you trying to sell and most importantly, why? Sounds simple enough until you actually try to quantify it.

Is the project funded? What if there’s not enough? Who has discretionary use of the funds? Who can get more? Are we speaking to the right person here?

What is the sale worth to the organization? Does the ROI justify the investment of time, money and effort?

Have we sold this prospect anything in the past? Who? What? Where? When? How? Why?

How many contacts have you already had with this contact? How many phone calls, face-to-face meetings and so on? Do you have a clear next step?

Do you have an organizational chart? Do you have an inside coach?

What has been (or will be) your sales strategy?

Where are you in the selling process? Here is a checklist:

Were you invited in or did you beg for an appointment?

What were the prospect’s reasons for seeing you?

What were the challenges, problems, and frustrations that you identified in the interview?

How important is it to the prospect to fix those problems?

How committed is the prospect to fixing those problems? (Time, effort, money, willingness to fail?)

What is the agreement you and the prospect have reached concerning the decisions that will be made each step of the way?

Few salespeople understand the cost of pursuing sales and often fill their funnels with bad business. Fewer think through winning strategies before going into sales “battle”.

Ask your sales people these fundamental sales questions before committing resources to a battle you cannot win.

Successful sales professionals qualify vigorously and religiously before committing time and energy so their closing ratios are 90% or better.

So, what are yours?

Greta Schulz is president of Schulz Business SELLutions in West Palm Beach, Florida. She is the best-selling author of “To Sell is Not to Sell”. Greta does corporate training for fortune 1000 companies and she has an on-line training course for entrepreneurs. For more tips go to: www.schulzbusiness.com.

Hilton Garden Inns in the Milwaukee area join in partnership to provide one million meals to families in need

Milwaukee, WI (Grassroots Newswire) – Hilton Garden Inn and Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief organization, recently launched Breakfast with Heart, a campaign to help fight hunger in America. Running through September 30, guests booking the Breakfast with Heart room rate* at a Hilton Garden Inn in the Milwaukee area will receive cooked-to-order breakfast included in the room rate. In support of Breakfast with Heart, Hilton Garden Inn will make a donation to Feeding America that will help provide one million meals to families that need it most.

In the United States, one in five children is at risk of hunger. This summer, nearly 18 million children will be at greater risk of hunger while they are out of school and don’t have access to free or reduced-priced lunches. Through Breakfast with Heart, Hilton Garden Inn is dedicating its summer promotion to help children and families have access to nourishing meals and help fill this nutrition gap.

Breakfast with Heart is the first initiative of You Can Count on Us, Hilton Garden Inn’s signature community relations program to nourish and nurture communities on their road to success. Through this commitment, Hilton Garden Inns in the Milwaukee area aim to be part of the effort to help provide food, shelter and comfort to those in need locally and in surrounding communities.

“We created You Can Count on Us to reflect the dependability and passion our team members demonstrate every day,” said Judy Christa-Cathey, Vice President, Global Brand Marketing, Hilton Garden Inn. “By extending the spirit of hospitality to those who need it most, we believe we can create positive change for our hotels and our communities. We are excited to launch this first initiative in the United States with Feeding America, the nation’s leading hunger-relief organization.”

With more than 200 member food banks, Feeding America serves 37 million people each year. Feeding America’s food banks secure and distribute three billion pounds of donated food and grocery products each year through food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters and after-school programs. “We are proud to partner with Hilton Garden Inn to deliver a strong impact right from the start of a partnership that will grow across Hilton Worldwide’s portfolio,” said Maura Daly, Chief Communications and Programs Officer. Thanks to Hilton Garden Inn we have an opportunity to continue to raise awareness about hunger in America and engage hotel guests in providing meals to those in need.”

You Can Count on Us is one of the many ways Hilton Garden Inn delivers on Hilton Worldwide’s commitment to Travel with Purpose and increase the economic and social benefits the company brings to its backyard communities.

To make a reservation to support Breakfast With Heart, please visit www.hgi.com or contact the General Manager at one of the following hotels:

The Hilton Garden Inn located at 5890 S. Howell Avenue in Milwaukee at

* Subject to availability at participating hotels. Book Plan Code “PBBWH1.” Valid for Friday and/or Saturday night stays booked and consumed between June 1, 2012 – September 30, 2012 in the U.S. Availability and rate will be confirmed at time of booking and will vary by property, length of stay, date and are based on occupancy per room. Rate does not include resort/service fees, taxes, incidental charges or gratuities. Rate includes breakfast for up to two adults and two children 12 years old and younger registered in the same room. Breakfast does not include gratuities or alcoholic beverages. Other restrictions may apply.

About Hilton Garden Inn

Hilton Garden Inn is an award-winning, mid-priced brand which continuously strives to offer today’s frequently travelling busy people with everything they might need during their trip, including complimentary cable and WiFi Internet access in all guest rooms, PrintSpot(tm) mobile printing, complimentary round-the-clock business center services, innovative and stress relieving Garden Sleep SystemTM and ergonomic Mirra® chairs designed by Herman Miller. Such that, whether you are on a business trip or a personal trip, Hilton Garden Inn provides you a deep sleep away from home, comfortable working environment, delicious food and comfort and services to help you stay fresh. For further information on Hilton Garden Inn’s North American or European hotels or to plan your next escape, please visit www.HGI.com.

About Hilton Worldwide

Hilton Worldwide is the leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For 93 years, Hilton Worldwide has offered business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. The company is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands. Its brands are comprised of more than 3,800 hotels and timeshare properties, with 630,000 rooms in 91 countries and include Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages the world-class guest reward program Hilton HHonors®. Visit www.hiltonworldwide.com for more information and connect with Hilton Worldwide at www.facebook.com/hiltonworldwide, www.twitter.com/hiltonworldwide, www.youtube.com/hiltonworldwide, www.flickr.com/hiltonworldwide and www.linkedin.com/company/hilton-worldwide.

About Feeding America

Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 61,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow our news on Twitter at twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.

About You Can Count on Us

You Can Count on Us is Hilton Garden Inn’s community relations program to nourish and nurture communities on their road to success. Through You Can Count on Us, Hilton Garden Inn aims to help provide food, shelter and comfort in times of pressing need. Hilton Garden Inn will help address pressing needs around the world by inspiring and mobilizing others to stand up and be counted on to take action. You Can Count on Us is one of many strategic programs developed by the Hilton portfolio of brands as part of Travel with Purpose, Hilton Worldwide’s commitment to providing shared value to our business and communities around the world. Travel with Purpose is built on four areas of focus – creating opportunities for individuals to reach their full potential; strengthening communities where we operate; celebrating cultures and the power of travel; and living sustainability through the measurement, analysis and improvement of our use of natural resources.

The Milwaukee Branch of the NAACP and Voces de la Frontera should be congratulated for their efforts resulting in a state Circuit Court judge placing a permanent injunction against Wisconsin’s Voter ID Law, which stops the law from taking effect.

In his decision, Flanagan reportedly said the law was “not sufficiently narrow to avoid needless and significant impairment of the right to vote.”

We think Richard Saks, an attorney working with both civil rights organizations against the ID law said it best during a news conference Tuesday at the NAACP headquarters announcing the victory: “To those 300,000 voters to have to spend $20 or $40, or eight or 10 or 12 hours to get a photo ID, that’s what the judge found to be an unreasonable voter’s burden.”

If the decision is upheld at the state Supreme Court level, voters won’t be incumbered by this modern day version of the “poll tax” in the upcoming August 14 election and–hopefully–the presidential election in November.

Through his work on this ruling, as well as pro-active initiatives focusing on unemployment, police conduct, education and the need to develop new visionary leaders for the future, Milwaukee NAACP Branch President James Hall has made the organization relevant again for Black Milwaukeeans.

Hall has kept the promise he made when he was running for the position to make the NAACP in Milwaukee the go-to civil rights organization in the city. The branch is a reflection of what we see as a renaissance of the national organization under the leadership of Benjamin Jealous.

The NAACP’s partnership with Voces de la Frontera points to another seachange: The necessary joining of Black and Latino civil rights organizations to protect and defend the rights guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

We hope this partnership will continue and spark other ethnic organizations to do the same for not only the protection of civil rights, but the creation of economic opportunities that will be beneficial for everyone involved regardless of race.

Those who doubt alliances between different ethnic groups are possible should look back on Tuesday on what the NAACP and Voces accomplished; working together to protect the most precious right an American can have…the right to vote!

Green Bay, WI – NeighborWorks America recently launched the NeighborWorks Alliance of Wisconsin, an agreement between 6 regional housing and community development organizations dedicated to improving housing opportunities and building strong communities for all Wisconsin residents.

This alliance is formed by member organizations of NeighborWorks America, which creates opportunities for people to live in affordable homes, improve their lives and strengthen their communities.

A new report released this week shows the organizations of the NeighborWorks Alliance of Wisconsin to be effective and productive small businesses, significantly benefitting the Wisconsin economy by creating jobs and generating income and tax revenue.

“We’re excited to be able to show that our commitment to building stronger communities has proved to be a source of economic growth and vitality for the state of Wisconsin,” said Noel Halvorsen, Executive Director, NeighborWorks Green Bay, and Chair, NeighborWorks Alliance of Wisconsin. “Together we’re building a better Wisconsin.”

Nzinga Khalid founded Mind, Body & Soul Dancers, Inc. (MBSD) in August 2010. The group was incorporated as a non-profit organization in December 2011. Their mission is to employ line dancing as a means of reducing aggression, depression and inactivity in adults and youth.

MBSD, Inc. partners with a variety of schools and community-based organizations to teach urban line dancing, which they believe exercises minds, strengthen bodies, and nourish souls. MBSD, Inc. participates in annual local festivals and celebrations such as Juneteenth Day, Garfield Days, Kwanzaa & many more spreading their slogan “Be Healthy Yall!”

MBSD, Inc. has joined forces with Omni Family Medical Clinic to offer 20 free line dance classes to help combat obesity and chronic health conditions. Classes are offered on Mondays 5:30-7:30 pm and Saturdays 11:30am-1pm at the 1134 W. North Avenue clinic location. Classes are also offered on Thursdays 5:30-7:30pm at the 7810 W. Good Hope Avenue clinic location. Start getting fit and call (414) 586-9255 schedule an appointment.

Urban line dancing is a fun way to implement a regular exercise regimen and socialize. Several participants in the Tuesday night class – held at the Wisconsin African American Women’s Center (WAAW), 3020 W. Vliet St. – recently joined members of MBSD at the United We Dance 11th Annual Urban Line Dance Convention held in Indianapolis, IN.

MBSD, Inc. is sponsoring a casino bus trip fundraiser to Horseshoe in Hammond, IN on Saturday, July 28th, 2012.

Additionally, MBSD, Inc. will hold the 2nd Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, August 25 at the Milwaukee Brotherhood of Fire Fighters Hall, 7717 W. Good Hope Avenue, 8pm- 1am. The theme is “Mad Hatters & Sexy Sundresses.” This event will be well attended with guest line dance instructors from Chicago, Indianapolis, and Detroit.